This is about me and my first ever alone journey. I decided that i will visit Vaishno Devi on my birthday. The dream came true when i decided and with the courage i speak to my mother about this and by luck she agreed for that. The biggest problem was to convence my dad. I explained him the whole plain that how it will happen and after thinking on it for few minutes he replied to me "OKAY". But that's not the end, my finacee created alot of problem for me, first she not allowed me to go alone on this spiritual trip and than she convenced my mummy that she must go with me as i am going alone. Later, both women touchered me alot by opting out the past bad history of JK State. But finally after alot of melodrama i got green signal. I catched 10:32am fast local of CST, i get down at Dadar and punched ticket from there to Bandra Station. After reaching at Bandra Station i went outside of that with the help of foot overbridge and catched a autorickshaw for nearby Bandra Terminus. I reached Bandra Terminus at 12:00 noon. The Train i.e. Garibrath was standing on platform no. 2. Thank God i was not bothered to change a platform. I went inside, changed clothes and make myself very comfortable. Till that i make 4 calls to home, as i promised them that i will give the information about each and every moment. The journey start very well. But somehow i feel that the air condition is not working which is nearby me and the entry door was also nearby my birth which literally cause lot of warm air. I got some temporary good friends and we all went to meet a technical person of our boggie and disturbed him so much that he solved the problem very quickly. I wonder why we didn't do that since train leave Bandra Terminus. I reached very next day at 12:10 pm on Delhi Sarai Rohilla. Trust me the station has no facility at all, there is no waiting room, non - availability of food and many more facilities are not there which are very necessary. There i have to be wait for 2hrs for a train which will take me to old delhi railway station which is my next destination. I started passing my time by reading magazine and hearing an FM by mobile. I was quiet curious to reach old delhi railway station as I never took a train from delhi sarai rohilla, it was a new route for me. I was waiting for an announcement when exactly one hour was there for my train to arrive on delhi sarai rohilla. But no announcement were made I took my luggage and started walking towards exit way, I even went to enquiry counter for help. When they came to know that I have a reservation for such a small journey, they literally smiling on me, they make fun out of me. I not felt bad as even I wasn’t aware of the fact that it takes only 10mins if train runs at proper speed. By the way, I even took the information about the rickshaw fare, I came to realize that charges for that is nearly 80rs. While bus takes only 10rs. as per the information of my journey friend who was from Bhiwandi City (met in garibrath). Finally, train arrived at 2:40pm. Well the train was running very slow in the beginning but soon I realize that I made a mistake by making reservation in railway, the best way to reach old delhi is to catch rickshaw/taxi. The 15min. journey between delhi sarai rohilla to old delhi railway station was literally pathetic. After reach Old Delhi Railway Station which was full of public I find my platform where my train was already arrived. Whether was very hot and the seat of mine was not in a good place, it was a passage seat and at the entrance of the compartment. Co-Passenger was a army man, he belongs to the medical department of Indian Army. There I met to the tourist guide of Kaseri Tours and Travels. A person was genuine, he shared me the information as per my request. What really fed-up me was the daily commuters who travel in such a trains without tickets. Even I came to realize that it’s happen everyday, they do disturb reservation passengers on this route till Saharanpur, from Ghaziabad/Meerut. After some point of time, when the rush was out and I became comfortable, I was enjoying myself. Some few hours was left on my birthday, but this time I was not much excited, I was worried about my walking journey on Vaishno Devi. Back to Train, I got a call from my family, they wished me and later Ludhiana railway station came, I purchased a cold drink (favourate 1) and a bottle of mineral water. I was trying to sleep but somewhere I was waiting for a destination station i.e. Jammu Tawi which going to be come at 5:00am. After arriving at Jammu Tawi, I took my luggage and walk straight away to exit, walking so fast because I wanted to catch the early bus for Katra. It was raining and I slept in a bus while it was moving in its best speed and passing through some good and heighted mountains. Can’t believe that it was my birthday, I was alone and going for a Darshan of Vaishno Devi Mata. Katra came and i start my search for a room but before that I took a parchi which is quiet necessary when you are going for yatra. After taking parchi I start searching for a room. The Domitri Room, where I usually stay with my family was full of yatris and also nearby lodge was full, not a single room was available. Later went to some hotels and dharamshala for room but they were not cleaned at all. I took a chance and went towards hotel Janata were once I stayed with my family. Luckily I got an Air Conditioned room. It was a sign of relief while walking towards room. Took a bath, same time I even managed to on a television there to get some updates about world. Got detailed information about Mumbai Blast which took place on 13th July, as I got some bits of information about that earlier through my family members, when I was in a train. Besides, that i freshed up and took a rickshaw towards Vaishno Devi entrance. It was raining a bit and I was quiet anxious towards my journey. I started walking by wearing rain – coat, I was sweating from inside as the temp. was not proper and soon I came to know that I am suffering right now from breathing problem, especially after talking a steps route which contain nearly 550 steps. I skip first halt which is CHARANPADUKA, where Mata Vaishno Devi leaves her sleepers. I started walking with full confidence and speed and soon reach ARDHKUWARI, where Mata Vaishno Devi stayed for 9 months. Me and my family usually skip this because the place is under construction and there is a long que always of yatris to take the darshan of devi. I reached BHAWAN at 12:45 nearby, purchased Prashad and went on to off my shoes and start standing in que which soon disappear luckily. Darshan of devi happened were quick and got enough time to see surroundings, only one bad luck was that, the important tunnel was closed, as per the information of many pundits and as per the view and story shown over television or cd of Mata Vaishno Devi, it shows that devi stays here finally after beating her enemy i.e. Lord Bhaironath. After completing darshan of devi I called to my mother to inform her that I reached save and did darshan. Soon, I walked towards Bhairo Gathe, a route which take place yatris towards temple of Lord Bhaironath. There I reach to within an hour and did darshan there without even standing in a que. Later, walked towards katra and reached nearby 6:30pm. It was quiet painfull as my leg shaking, another reason was I took the help of several steps route to reach katra before night. I got success in my plan. Later went to my room, switched on air condition, took a hot water bath, took some steam also my putting leg into hot water bucket and side-by-side watching television. After that went outside to eat dinner, and roam here and there to just pass some time. In the night, I remained television switch on to feel that I am not alone in the room. Next day woke up nearby 9am and after wrapping up and completing necessary things went in the market, purchased some pure mineral water for train journey, as it is impossible now-a-days to get pure water in train. Later, ate lunch and stayed in a hotel reception, as the check out time was over. Left katra nearly 4 noon and reach jammu at 6:30. There I have to wait for two hours for my train, luckily I got the very good company of the army man, who was going to home, as he took leave. We chat on some important issues, the time passes and train arrived. In the morning at 6am, I reached at New Delhi Railway Station, there my friend came who promised me that he will drop me at Delhi Sarai Rohilla Railway Station. But soon I came to know that he was drunk and he spend whole night in party. He brought a bike with himself on which he will drop me to my destination station, but in the mid of the road trip I stopped him and told him to go back to home as you drunk and don’t bother about me I go to my destination by taking rickshaw. He was staring me with regret and I start walking, I turned myself to see whether he gone or not, he was still there and moving his face here and there. I don’t know till today whether he reached home safe or not, neither I called him and nor he called me. I waited for my train nearly 90minutes at station, later train came and I sat comfortable my changing clothes. It was a sign of relief for me that my journey for darshan of Vaishno Mata was successful. Next day, I reach my home safe.
